Sydney’s new international airport opens to passengers

Sydney's new $5.6 billion airport officially opened to passengers on Sunday after a decade of planning. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the milestone for Australia's most populous city, stating it was a significant moment for the country.

Situated in Badgerys Creek, around 60km west of central Sydney, the airport will operate 24/7, providing airlines with increased flexibility compared to the current airport's limited operating hours. The existing airport, located closer to Sydney's central business district, can only handle takeoffs and landings until 11pm and after 6am, restricting airline scheduling.

This marks the first new major airport in Australia in over 50 years, according to Albanese. He expressed pride in officially opening the Western Sydney International Airport. Qantas' budget airline, Jetstar, was set to launch the first outbound flight to the Gold Coast from the new airport on Sunday.

The airport boasts the capacity to handle over 80 million passenger movements annually. Cargo flights commenced at the facility in July 2025, preceding the start of passenger services. The site, spanning 1,780 hectares, was purchased by the federal government in the 1980s and the project wrapped up in July 2025 after a seven-year construction period and 15 years of planning.